{"id":79277,"date":"2024-03-18T14:10:48","date_gmt":"2024-03-18T19:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casel.org\/?post_type=blogposts&p=79277"},"modified":"2024-08-22T16:07:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T21:07:47","slug":"sel-week-2024-what-a-week-it-was","status":"publish","type":"blogposts","link":"https:\/\/casel.org\/blog\/sel-week-2024-what-a-week-it-was\/","title":{"rendered":"SEL Week 2024: What a Week it Was!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cSocial emotional learning, or SEL, helps me stay calm and be happier . . . I\u2019m here to ask the people who help make the rules to make sure schools like mine have what they need to do SEL. Thank you for listening to what kids think about SEL.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are the words of Cordelia Dubois<\/a>, a first-grader at Abbot-Downing School in Concord, New Hampshire, from her address to policy and education leaders during the celebration of National SEL Week (March 4-8, 2024) at the Capitol. It was a moment that perfectly captured the theme of this year\u2019s National SEL Week and International SEL Day, Today\u2019s Students, Tomorrow\u2019s Leaders<\/em>, an invitation to showcase how SEL helps students achieve academically and develop the skills they need to be the civic leaders of tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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National SEL week is a \u201cSEL\u201debration of social and emotional learning in every community in the United States, culminating in International SEL Day.<\/a> And what a week it was! This year, National SEL Week held space for the voices of young people, parents, educators, leaders, and others. From Washington, D.C., to communities and schools across the nation, we felt the power of shared commitment to every child\u2019s social, emotional, and academic learning. Here are some of the highlights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presidential support for National SEL Week<\/strong><\/h2>Back to top<\/a>\n\n\n\n

President Biden issued a letter commemorating National SEL Week, stating, \u201cA quality education has the power to open doors and bring dreams within reach. And when that education is grounded in SEL, fostering positive learning environments where students feel a sense of belonging, we can empower young people to learn, grow, make good decisions, and achieve their goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEL Champions took to Capitol Hill<\/strong><\/h2>Back to top<\/a>\n\n\n\n

Along with Cordelia, National Parents Union, Educators4Excellence, Dr. Christina Cipriano of Yale, and district leaders from across the country joined CASEL on the Hill to share their stories and evidence of SEL\u2019s impact. Over two days, we visited 27 congressional offices on both sides of the aisle, representing all parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen as CASEL\u2019s Vice President of Policy Lakeisha Steele<\/a>, SEL researcher Dr. Chris Cipriano<\/a>, Rose Prejean-Harris<\/a> of Atlanta Public Schools, LaTrayl Adams<\/a> of Winston-Salem\/Forsyth County Schools, and Jason Allen<\/a> of the National Parents Union share why they were there and why SEL is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t miss Cordelia sharing about SEL on Capitol Hill\u2014plus teaching Senator Maggie Hassan<\/a> some SEL strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders from across the aisle stepped up for SEL <\/strong><\/h2>Back to top<\/a>\n\n\n\n

At both the state and federal levels, leaders from across the aisle championed National SEL Week and International SEL Day. Governors in 10 states issued SEL Day proclamations, and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME), supported by seven other co-sponsors<\/a>, introduced a bipartisan Senate Resolution<\/a> to call for the establishment of SEL Week. The resolution aims to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n